Dr. Kurt Wimer

Dr. Kurt Wimer, 98, of East Stroudsburg, died peacefully on Aug. 2, 2013, in his home. He was the husband of the late Sarah (Koslofsky) Wimer. They had been married from 1949 until her death in 2008.

He treasured his family and friends and was always there to lend a hand to anyone who needed him. He is loved deeply by his friends and family, who will keep his memory alive each day. He was a gentle soul who literally wouldn't hurt a fly (he would "escort" them out of the house). He will be sorely missed.

Born on June 27, 1915, in Ittlingen, Germany, he was a son of the late Siegmund and Recha (Kirchheimer) Wimpfheimer and lived in Monroe County since 1938.

He lived a very full life. A graduate of Wurzburg Theological Seminary in Wurzburg, Germany, he served as a cantor and rabbi in Worms, Germany until 1938. At age 23, he was warned by a German soldier that his name was on a list to be sent to a concentration camp. He subsequently left Germany and started a new life in the United States. He moved from New York City, N.Y., to Wilkes-Barre and finally to Monroe County.

After completing his education in Germany, he attended East Stroudsburg University, and eventually earned his Ph.D from New York University in 1957.

He worked many jobs, including rabbi at Temple Israel of the Poconos, language teacher at Stroudsburg High School and professor at ESU. He eventually became chairman of the Social Science Department at ESU. Recently, he was honored by the "Dr. Kurt Wimer International Lecture Series" at ESU, named in his honor.

As a leading scholar on Woodrow Wilson, he wrote numerous articles for academic publications. He had various correspondences with a number of U.S. presidents and other dignitaries, which he recently donated to ESU.

He is survived by a son, Scott Wimer and his wife, Chris, of Los Angeles, Calif.; a daughter, Lucy (Wimer) Spinney and her husband, Barry, of Boston, Mass.; a grandson, Paul Wimer; two granddaughters, Jennifer and Kate Spinney; and a brother, Walter Wimer of Ann Arbor, Mich.

The funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 6, at Temple Israel of the Poconos, 711 Wallace St., Stroudsburg, with Rabbi Bibi Melman officiating. Burial will follow at Temple Israel Cemetery, Route 209, Middle Smithfield Township.

Light refreshments will be served at the Wimer home following the burial. Friends and relatives are invited to attend. Details of Shivah will be announced at the funeral service.

In holding with Jewish tradition, please do not send flowers. Instead, donations may be made to Temple Israel of the Poconos, 711 Wallace St., Stroudsburg, PA 18360; VNA Hospice of Monroe County, 502 VNA Road, East Stroudsburg, PA 18301; or East Stroudsburg University — Dr. Kurt Wimer International Lecture Series, 200 Prospect St., East Stroudsburg, PA 18301.

William H. Clark Funeral Home

1003 Main St., Stroudsburg

wmhclarkfuneralhome.com

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